WWE Raw Preview (Dec. 15, 2025): The End of Sports Entertainment?

WWE Raw Returns with a Live Show from GIANT Center

WWE's Raw airs tonight (Dec. 15) with a live show from the GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This marks the third episode of Raw during the nine-week build-up to the Royal Rumble, which is scheduled for January 31 in Saudi Arabia.

The End of an Era?

The phrase "sports entertainment" has been a hot topic in recent weeks, especially after John Cena's retirement was marked by a controversial line delivered by Michael Cole at Saturday Night’s Main Event. The camera panned across the stunned live audience as Cole declared: “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight, professional wrestling destroyed sports entertainment.” This statement sparked a debate about whether the term "sports entertainment" is finally being phased out in WWE.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio believes that this line reflects Paul Levesque's vision for WWE, where it is no longer considered "sports entertainment" but rather "professional wrestling." The term "sports entertainment" has long been seen as a marketing gimmick, a phrase that Vince McMahon tried to use to rebrand what fans have always known as "professional wrestling."

GUNTHER's Return on Raw

GUNTHER is set to make his appearance on Raw tonight, delivering his first promo since forcing John Cena into retirement. As he brags about dismantling Cena's legacy, fans are wondering if he will address the ongoing debate between "sports entertainment" and "professional wrestling." Or is it time to move past this discussion entirely?

Tune in to see what the best professional wrestler in WWE, and its new legend killer, has to say after ending John Cena’s career. Also, keep an eye out for any babyfaces who might challenge GUNTHER over his actions.

The Rest of the Card

Women’s World Championship Match

Stephanie Vaquer defends her title against Raquel Rodriguez. Will Nikki Bella interfere to get revenge on Raquel after last week’s attack, or was she permanently removed from the title scene? Additionally, is Liv Morgan okay with Rodriguez pursuing the belt she covets the most?

Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match

Maxxine Dupri returns from her training at The Dungeon with Natalya to make her first Raw title defense against Ivy Nile. Considering that Ivy hasn’t won a match on Raw in 2025, it seems likely that Dupri will retain the title as fans await Becky Lynch’s return from her current boycott of the show.

Tag Team Rivalry Revisited

WWE is revisiting one of its greatest tag team rivalries with New Day vs. The Usos. Neither team is performing at their peak level, with New Day rarely winning on Raw these days. Jey Uso is reluctantly returning to tag team wrestling after failing to win back the world heavyweight championship. If The Usos win, will Jimmy and Jey already be in line for a title shot against the World Tag Team Champions, AJ Styles and Dragon Lee?

Rey Mysterio vs. Logan Paul

Rey Mysterio faces Logan Paul, who now has The Vision backing him up. This could lead to Mysterio becoming the next babyface to be Tsunami splashed through a car. Will Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio get dragged into this one for an eventual three-way title match against Paul and Rey?

CM Punk's Return

CM Punk makes his first appearance on Raw since being pinned at War Games. He will address the trash talk from Bron Breakker and the masked mystery man helping The Vision. Does Punk suspect that the masked figure might actually be his hated rival Seth Rollins?

Other Things to Watch For

• LA Knight’s Status: Is there any update on LA Knight’s condition after Bronson Reed completely destroyed him last week?
• New Talent Call-Ups: Are there plans for Oba Femi, Sol Ruca, Je’Von Evans, or Joe Hendry to be called up to the main roster after their showcase at Saturday Night’s Main Event? Will Bayley snap on Lyra Valkyria after losing to Ruca at SNME?
• Women’s Tag Division: The women’s tag division is more competitive than ever, with a long list of challengers targeting the Kabuki Warriors' WWE women’s tag team championship. This includes Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez, and Lash Legend & Nia Jax. How will WWE decide which team gets the next title match? Kairi Sane has already lost singles matches against Bliss and IYO in December, so is it the Judgment Day’s turn to beat her next?
• Rusev’s Future: What does creative have in store for Rusev now that The Last Time Is Now tournament is over?
• Royal Rumble Entries: Which WWE stars will be the first to declare for next month’s Royal Rumble matches?
• Omos’ Whereabouts: Where is Omos?

Final Thoughts

What will you be looking for on Raw? With so many storylines in play, this episode promises to be packed with drama, surprises, and high-stakes matches. Stay tuned for all the action!